Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-16
LIME AS A FERTILIZER.
A ennsylvaDia Farmers Account of the
Effects of Its Use.


Effects of Its Use.
In this part of the country lime is the
principal fertilizer outside of barnyard
manure. As the soil is naturally very
thin we have 10 use something from
the word Ego" to keep up the fertility.
| think there is nothing that will, for
the same outlay of money. give as much
in return. If land is properly made up
with lime. and then properly farmed.
no one will ever live to see it need any
more. Last summer neighbor called
my attention to Il narrow strip across
one of his oat fields which was three OF
four inches taller than the rest, and
explained that the cause of il was "it
had a small coat of lime fifty-two wears
to the present time. If the land on
which it is applied is extremely poor
and there is no sod, it should always
have u little manure to put on with il
10 give the lime something to work ON.
1t is rather slow in its work. You sell
dom ever see any benefit from its use
till YOU SOW in clover and then break
up the sod. And then there is no crop.
ut least none raised here, on which it is
not very beneficial. Low clay ground
that is naturally wet and cold, unless
perfectly underdrained. is poor place
for lime. 1t shows much the best on
high, dry, gravclv soils. If low wet
ground is plowed when not in proper
order on account of moisture. where
lime has been used, it seems to destroy
its effects entirely. Here is a mistake
many farmers make. Because 4 neigh
Dor who has high land can plow, they
will too, even if the water runs after
them in the furrow.
When lime is properly applied its ef-
feet on the soil is something similar To
Yeast in dough for bread. 1t seems To
give it life and make it light and mel
low. But in order to get the full benc-
fit of it we must put it on in proper
style that is, we must put ii on when
fresh burnt; the hotter the better. Old
refuse lime that has become wet from
exposure is practically worthless. 1t
must be so YOU can scatter il on like
H''"'' ~ '''h'' ~ l''T7i''f'' ''hN 'h''H
should be narrowed in without rain.
Where it is wet and lies over the field
! in. Jumps it never mixes with the soil
and apparently does II" good.
/ The amount to be- used depends on
the former fertility of the ground to
which it i, applied the amount you
have on hand. the time YOU have 10
/ spare without making your crop late.
etc. The old idea entertained BY our
! "randfatherS. that too much would kill
the ground. j. extremely fallacious.
We have used from lo0to 900 bushels
per acre and never lost Il crop on ac-
count of putin" ON too much. We
usually use 500 or 400 bushels per acre.
aud then before we SOW down in clover.
rive Il top-dressin" of manure. which
insurcs II good catch Then let it lie n
couple Of wears aud put in corn, and
I we never fail to get II crop.
Land that has been lined To any cx-
tent is scarcely ever troubled with
worlns. which is no small item some
times. From past experience | would
say there is no better fertilizer for sll
orchard than hot Time 1t promotes
The growth of the trees, is destructive
IL insects. and surely benefits the fruit.
- endaQ0 (Pa.) Cor. ohio Farmer.